Indicating device



June 17 1924. 1,497,874

T. c. PROUTY ET AL INDJCATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l, 1918 .N .NWN

June 17 1924.

' 1,497,874 T. c. PRQuTY ET AL INDICATING DEVICE Filed Aug. l l 1918 3 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Z raven/Z2 rs.'

"QM" 4 Www June 17 1924.

T. C. PROUTY ET AL INDIQATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Waaa re Waas; x

ZL if f J Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,491,814 PATENT oFFlcE.

vIHIEIDOBE (2. PROUT'Y AND WILLIS 0. PROUTY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO'RS, BY l MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PATENTS HOLDING CORPORATION, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A COBEORATION 0F DELAWARE.

`inmanente naines.,

Application tiled `August 1, 1918. Serial No. 247,729.

To all 'whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that we, THnoDonE C. PRoU'rY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, and WILLIS O. PnoU'rY, a citizen of the United States, residing at-Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an indicating device, and the improvement may be embodied in speedometers,'tachometers, rotation counters, and similar instruments for use with automobiles, aeroplanes, and other machines.

The purpose of the invention is to vpro vide\ an indicating device operating on a new principle for indicating accurately variations in speed and the like. The principal Object of the invention is to provide an indicating device of the kind referred to embodying two driven elements having different laws of movement and having coacting parts adapted to cause a change in the relative positions of the elements to be effected by a change in their relative speeds.

In the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated, we provide a shaft which is rotated with a speed proportional to the speed of the automobile shaft, and which carries a discnormally adaptedl to remain in fixed position thereon, but arranged to move longitudinally. In combination therewith a second disc is4 provided to coact frictionally with the first disc and drive the same, the second disc being driven according to a different law of movement, preferably having a substantially constant speed of rotation, so'that when the linear speeds of the coacting parts ,of the two discs are the same, no change in the position of the first disc on the second disc will occur. When the speed of the variable speed shaft changes, the 'connection thereof with the first disc causes this disc to move outwardly on the second disc to a path of larger radius, wherein the second disc drives the first disc with increased angular velocity correspond-.

ingto the increased angular' velocity of the variable shaft. By connecting indicating mechanism to the movable disc, the changes "in the speed of the variable shaft and the speed thereof at any given instant can be Figure 1 shows a top plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, looking in the`direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

In the drawings the speedometer is shown as comprising a. casing l() having a base portion 10a, an annular wall 10", and an annular fiange 10c around the upper edge of the annular wall, these parts preferably being formed as an integral construction. A supporting table or frame member 11 is mounted within the casing 10 upwardly from the base thereof, on which it is carried I by means of posts 12 which are connected to the base and to the table bymeans of screws 13. The speedometer mechanism is carried by the table 11 and is driven through a shaft 14, which forms an extension of the shaftv 15 through which a connection is formed with the automobile shaft. or other member, the speed of which is to be determined. The shaftl has ,an enlarged portion 15l which is journalled'in a bearing member 16 mounted within the sleeve 17, in which it is supported by an annular shoulder 17a engaging the annular recess on the lower end of the bearing member. The sleeve 17 carries an annular fiange 17" at its upper end which surrounds the a erture` in the base of the casing into w ich the upper end of the sleeve extends. and this annular flange is secured to the casing by means of bolts or screws 18 which pass through the casing and into a plate or washer 19. The lower end of the shaft 15 is reduced in diameter, as shown at 1,5", and the extremity of this portion is provided with a coupling connection 15 b which the shaft can be connected to a flexible shaft extending to the shaft of the automobile, or the like. The sleeve 17 is threaded on its outer side, as shown at 17% to be engaged by suitable connecting means associated with the flexible shaft, or the like. 1

The upper end of the`shaft 15 carries a hub or block17d having a transverse slot 20 extending downwardly from the upper end thereof, and is further provided with a cylindrical axial recess to be `closely itted by the lower end of the shaft 14, which has a transverse pin 21 xed therein to engagew the slot 20 so that a driving connection is formed between the shaft 15 and the extension 14 thereof. A bracket 22 is secured to the table 11 and odset downwardly therefromto support the collar 23 which forms a raceway for the balls 24, upon which is seated the collar 25 fixed on the shaft 14, so rthat a roller bearing is formed to support the shaft and receive the downward thrust thereon. 'The upper end of the shaft 14 is reduced in diameter, as shown at 14, to form a seat for the balls 26, which are adapted to run within the raceway formed by the collar-27 which is secured to a bracket 28 carried on the upper side of the table 11. The shaft 14 serves as a driving member for both the variable element of the indicating device and for the kelement having a substantially constant or invariable intermittent motion.

The connection for driving the disc havinga regular intermittent ymotion comprises a pinion 30 secured to the shaft 14 between the bracket'22 andthe table 11 by means of a pin 31, and arranged to drive a relatively large gear 32 which is fixed on al sleeve 34 journalled in an aperture formed in the central portion of the table 11 and supported thereon by means of an annular ange 34a which engages the ilpper surface fof the table. The `flange 341also carries a plate 35, above which is mounted a coil spring 36 having the inner end thereof attached to the sleeve 34, and having the outer portion thereof coacting frictionally with an annular collar or sleeve 37 which tits securely within an annular depending :iange 40a formed on the under side of the large friction disc 40. The disc 40- is in 'turn secured to a plate 41 by means of rivets 42, and the plate 41 has formed integrally therewith a stub shaft 43 which is journalled within a bushing 44 mounted within the sleeve 34, previously described. A plate or collar 45 is secured to' theclower end of the shaft 43 by means of a pin 46,

neeaeve and a washer 47 is inserted between this collar and the hub of the gear 32. It will be seen that as the gear 32 rotates, the sleeve 34 connected theretowill wind up the sprin 36, and at the same time this spring w impart a rotar movement to the disc 40 by reason of the 'lyrictional engagement thereof with the annular collar 37, so that the variable energytransmitted to the gear 32 from the driving'shaft 14 will be' stored up by the spring 36, which in turn will distribute the stored up energy at a substantially uniform rate and drive the disc 40. The disc 40 is supported adjacent the `outer periphery thereof by means of 4a ball-bearing comprising an annular grooved collar 5() secured to the table 11 by screws 50al to form a raceway for the balls 51,'which in turn coact with the inner raoeway formed by the collars 52 and 53 carried by the depending flange 40b formed on the under side K' of the disc. rlfhe lower collar 53 preferably has a screw-threaded engagement with the flange-40", so that it can be removed when desired.`

The disc 4Q is controlied, in order to give it a substantially regular intermittent motion of uniform velocity, by means of governing mechanism designated generally by the numeral 55. This mechanism is connected directly to the dise 4 0, which vhasgear teeth 56 formed on'the periphery thereof to mesh with the teeth of a pinion 57 fixed on a shaft 58. This shaft has its upper end journalled in a bracket-59 carried by the table 11, and the lower end thereof is journalled in another bracket 60 secured to the underside of the table. The rotation of the shaft 581is controlled by a stop arm 61, which extends through the lower projecting end of the shaft 58 and is secured thereto with equal portions projecting on 'opposite sides of the shaft; `The ends of the stop arm 61 are made relatively thin, as shown at 61a, and are adapted to engage a stop 62, in the shapel of a curved vane, which is carried by the shaft 63. This shaft has its lower end journalled in a plate or bracket 64. A balance wheel or disk 65is xed on the shaft 63 above the plate 64, and theoscillatory movement of this balance wheel is controlled by a hair spring 66, as in the ordinary watch construction. At each limit inea-evs:

eration oi the escapement mechanism so 'that the variahle energy transmitted to the spring 36 is stored up and released through the snhstantially uniform intermittent ino tion oi' the disc.

The other train of mechanism, which moves 'with a variable speed directly responsive to the variations in the speed oi' rotation oi the shalt 14, comprises a screw threaded horizontal shaft or spindle 70, which has the ends thereof journalled in the parallel portions 71a of tivo pivotally mounted arms 71. These arms ll are lined on a roclr shalt 72 journalled in bearing memoers78 'which are spaced apart and secured to theiahleull. An arm or lever 74 is lined to the middle portion of the rock sha-lit ll, and the underside thereof is pror vided 'with a recess 74 which forms a seat for a coil spring l5, the lower end of which is secured in position on the tahle 1-1 by means ci an upwardly projecting pin 76. The shaft has a 'worm 7? lined to one end thereof to mesh with a Worm gear 78 which is iixed upon the upper end of the shaft lei, so that the rotary motion of the driving shaft is imparted to the horizontal shsit 'l0 While the speed of rotation is at the saine time reduced.

A friction disc 80 is mounted upon the shaft i0 and provided with an internal screvv thread adapted to engage the spiral groove 70a o' the shaft 70. The disc 80 is made relatively Wide, and the peripheral surii'ace thereof is adapted to coact with the upper surace of the disc 40. The pivotal mounting of the shalt 70' permits the coil spring l to maintain a iirm rictional contact hete/veen the tvvo discs, so that as the disc l0 is rotated with an invariable intermittent motion, as previously described, this motion is imparted to the disc 8 0 when the latter is at some point removed from the enact center oi3 the disc 40, which central position is 'that occupied by the disc 80 when the parte of 'the speedometer are at rest. The disc 40 cannot drive the disc 80 when the latter is located at the central or zero position, lentas soon as the sharpt 70 begins to rotate, the screw-threaded engagement thereof with the disc 80 causes the latter to move to the leit, as viewed in Fig. 2, to a point displaced from the center of the disc 40. The disc 80 will then "ce driven by the disc l0 with a speed dependent upon its dis# tance from the center ci the larger disc, and when 'the an larl velocity of the disc 80 equals that ol the shaft 70, the longitudinal movement ofthe disc 80 ceases and it rotetes in unison 'with 'the shaft as long. as the angular .velocity of the4 shaft remains constanto lthe speed of the she-it 14 and of the shaft 70 then increases, causing the driven disc 80 to lag behind the shaft 70, thaw-threaded connection will force the driven disc farther Jfrom the center of the driving disc until the driving radius oi the disc i0 is suilicient to rotate the disc 80 with an angular velocity equal to the increased angular velocity of the 'shaft v70. lf the speed of the shaft 70 decreases, the disc 80 automatically moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, until it again rotates in unison With its shaft. 't will he seen that the linear speeds of the contacting parts of the two discs must he the same and ii the speed to he indicated is either increasing or decreasing, these linear speeds are unequal and a relative movement of the discs takes place. Ilhe disc 80 thus moves longitudinally on the shaft 70 with each change' of speed ci the driving shaft 14, and, if the disc 80 be connected to suitable indicating mechanism, the variations in speed of the shaft 14 and of the automobile shaft connected thereto may he indicated or recorded.

For this purpose an annular rack bar 82 is iiXed to the disc 80 and journalled on theshait 70, being arranged to extend to the end of the shaft 70 opposite the shaft 14 when the disc 80 is in its normal position at the center ci the disc 40. This annular rack oar rotates with the disc 80 and meshes constantly with a 1 inion 84 carried hy the shaft or arbor 85, which is journalled in a bracket 86 carried by the table 11. This shaft extends upwardly Ythrough a dial 87, seated upon the annular flange 10 of the casing, and has secured thereto a pointer 88 which is adapted to move over the graduated scale 89 printed on the dial 87 concentrically with the axis of rotation of the pointer. A bezel 00 seats upon4v the outer edge or" the dial 87 and supports 'the cover plate 91, all oi which parts are secured to the casing 10 by means of an annular retaining ring 92.

The shaft 14, which is connected 'through the shaft 15 to a suitable moving part of the automobile mechanism, rotates with a speed which is constantly proportional to the speed of the vehicle, and this variable speed is transmitted constantly to the shaft '70 which at, all 'times rotates at a proportional speed which .is reduced by means of the worm .77 and Worm gear ,78. Since the linear speed of any portion of the up 'er surface of the disc Ll0 depends upon the istance or that proportion oi the surface 'from the center ci the disc, it follows that the center or the disc l0 will have no linear velocity, while the linear 'velocity oi points outward from the center of the disc will increase as the outer educ or" the disc is approached. This disc 80, which is driven hy the disc d0, has an angular velocity -dependent upon its distance from 'the center ci the disc fr0; and, if this angular velocity is the same as that of the shalt 70, the disc 80 and the shaft'ZO rotate in unison. When the speed of rotation of the shaft 70 changes., however, so Vthat it is either greater 'or less than that of the disc 80, the' screw-threaded driving connection between the shaft and thedisc 80jcauses-the l'atter to.move laterally onthe shaft 7() until'it reaches a position wherein its angular velocity again coincides with that of the shaft 70. The disc 80 always moves to a point where the surface velocities of the two' discs agree. In this way the disc 8O is directly responsive to all changes in thel speed of rotation of the shaft 14, and these changes are instantly recordedon the dialfby the pointer 88. By this novel construction' the rvariable. speed of thevehicle is measured by comparing the speed of an element having a motion di-l rectly responsive to'that variable speed with another element having a vspeed which is independent of that variable speed. vAlthough the disc 40 is preferably driven from Ithe same variable driving -element as the shaft, 70 andfregulatedby the governing mechanism to have alsubstantially constant or uniform movement, it will be apparent that the disc 40 may be actuated by-separate driving means, if desired. v y

Although we have shown 'and described a single embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the form or the inventionv and the application thereof may be varied widely Without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined in the appended lclaims.

We claim :e-

1. In a device for indicating the speed .of aA mechanism, adriving element driven at a speed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a driven element, spring mechanism actuated by said driving element for driving said driven element, escapement mechanism for controlling the speed of said driven element, independent means connecting said driving element with said drivenV element land comprising a member arranged to change its position upon change in the relative uspeeds of said driving element. and

said driven element, an annular rack bar movablel with said member, and indicating mechanism geared to said rack bar and operated thereby to indicate the speed.

2. In a device for indicatin the speed of a mechanism, a disc, a secon disc having l its periphery contacting with the face. of

amechanism, a disc, a second disc coacting with the peripheral surface of said 'firstnamed disc, resilient means for maintainlng a driving frictional contact between sai second-named disc and said first-namedr disc,` a spindle having a threaded enga ement with said first-named disc, means or driving said spindle at a speed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, an annular rack bar mounted on said spindle and connected to said Iirst named disc, and indicating mechanism including a pinion meshing with said rack bar actuated by a change in the relative positions of said discs.

4. In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, a spindle, a pivoted frame in which said spindle is rotatably mounted, a worm mounted on said spindle, a worm wheel meshing with said worm, a driving shaft connected with said worm wheel and adapted to 4be driven with a speed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a disc having threaded engagement with said s indle, asecond disc for driving said rstnamed disc, means engaging said pivoted frame to maintain the peripheral surface of said first-named disc 1n contact with said second-named disc, means actuated b said shaft for driving said second-name disc, and an escapement mechanism for controling the movements of said second-named 5. In a device for indicating the s eed of a mechanism, a spindle, means for riving said spindle at a s eed proportional tothe speed of said mec anism, a disc having a t readed engagement with said s 'ndle, a second disc .contacting on its latera surface with the periphery of said first-named disc, means for driving said second-named disc at a speed independent of the speed of said mechanism, a gear movable with said secondnamed disc, a pinion meshin with said ear, a stop arm actuated by sai pinion,-an an escapement mechanism driven by said sto arm for controlling the movements thereo 6. In av device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, a driving shaft driven with a speed `proportionate to the speed of said mechanism, a rotatably mounted disc, means for storing up energy received from said driving shaft and imparting the -same to said disc, said disc being provided with ear teeth, a shaft mounted adjacent said isc,

a pinion fixed on said last-named" shaft.

and'meshing with the gear teeth of said disc, a stop arm secured to said last-named shaft, a pivotally mounted stop comprising an angular vane adapted to be engaged by the ends of said arm, and means comprising a balance wheel for controlling the oscillation of said stop.

7. In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, the combination of a driving element adapted to be drivenwith aispeed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a disc rotatively mounted in the device and provided with a spring housing, a rotatable element mounted concentrically with said disc, a coil spring connected With said element and frictionally engaging said spring housing, means operated by said driving element for actuating said rotatable element, a second disc mounted with its periphery engaging the surface of said first named disc, and means engaging said second named disc driven by said driving element to effect a change in the relative positions of said discs upon change in the speedof said mechanism, an annular rack concentric .withsaid means and connected to said second named disc, gearing actuated by said rack, and indicating means operated by said gearing.-

8, In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, a spindle, a driving shaft connected to said spindle and adapted to be driven with a speed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a disc having a threaded -engagement with said spindle, a second drivin disc contacting on its lateral surface with the periphery of said first-named disc, a spring adapted to be Wound up by the rotation of said shaft, means for effecting the rotation of said second-named disc by the unwinding of said spring, said second-named disc having gear teeth formed on the periphery thereof, a pinion adapted to mesh with said teeth, a' stop arm actuated by the rotation of said pinion, and a clock escapement for controlling the rotation of said stop arm.

9. In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, the combination of a drivin element adapted to be driven with aspee proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a disc rotatively mounted in the device and provided with a spring housing, -a rotatable element mounted concentrically with said disc, a coil spring connected with said element and frictionally engaging said spring housin means operated by said driving element or actuating said rotatable element, a second disc mounted with its periphery engaging the surface of said first `named disc, means engaging said second named disc and driven by said' driving element to effect a change in the relative positions of said discs upon change in the speed' of said mechanism, a watch escapement connected to said first named disc for controlling the rotation thereof, an annular rack concentric with said means and connectedto said second named disc, gearing actuated by said rack, and indicating means operated by said gearing.

10. In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, the combination of a drivin element adapted to be driven with a spee proportional to the speed of said mechanism, a disc rotatively mounted in the device and provided with a spring housing, a rotatable element mounted concentrically with said disc, a coil spring connected with said element and frictionally engaging said spring housing, means operated by said driving element for actuating said rotatable element, as econd disc mounted With its periphery engaging the surface of said first named disc, a spindle threadedly engaging vsaid second named disc, means actuated by said driving element for operating said spindle with a speed proportional to the speed of said mechanism, an annular rack sliding on said spindle and connected to said 4second named disc, and means operated by said rack for indicating the speed of said mechanism.

11. In a device for indicating the speed of a mechanism, a frame, a driving'shaft driven by said mechanism and journalled in bearings carried by said frame, a rotatable sleeve journalled in said frame, a, shaft journalled in said sleeve, a disc mounted on the end of said shaft and provided with a spring housing on one side thereof, a coil spring having its inner end frictionally engaging the inner Wall of said housin means for forming a driving connection etween said sleeve and -drivingshafu a gear carried by said disc, an escapement mechanism driven by said ear for controlling the rotation of said disc, a spindle mounted parallel to the face of said disk, means forming a. driving connection between said driving shaft and said spindle, said spindle being provided with a helical groove, an annular rack bar mounted on said spindle and having a part engagin said groove, a second disc secured to sai rack bar with its periphery coacting with the face of said firstnamed disc, a pinion meshin with said rack bar, and indicating mechanism actuated by said pinion.

In testimony whereof, we have subscribed our names. l

' IHEODORE C. PROUTY. WILLIS O. PROUT-Y. 

